Bioinspired Soft Sensors and Wearables for Biomedical Applications by Associate Professor Ajay Kottapalli

11 Aug 2026 02.00 PM - 03.00 PM MSE E-Studio (N4.1-B2-02) Alumni, Current Students

NTU MSE Seminar Hosted by Professor Chen Xiaodong

Abstract

This talk will delve into the fascinating realm of biomimicry, exploring how the mechanosensory designs of biological sensors observed in nature can be ingeniously transposed into artificial polymer sensors and flexible electronic devices. Ajay Kottapalli’s research develops flexible electronic devices, artificial skin sensors, electronic tattoos and wearable sensors for tracking motion, monitoring physiological parameters (sweat sensing), and enhancing human-machine interactions. Flexible nanomaterial-based sensors, encompassing piezoresistive, piezocapacitive, and piezoelectric functionalities, were fabricated and seamlessly integrated into the Internet of Things (IoT), showcasing compelling demonstrations of their biomedical sensing and monitoring applications. The talk will elucidate the process of translating these biological inspirations into practical applications, particularly focusing on their integration into biomedical sensing and healthcare devices.

Biography

Associate Professor Ajay Kottapalli
University of Groningen

Ajay Kottapalli is currently a tenured Associate Professor and Chair of Bioinspired MEMS and Biomedical Devices Group at the University of Groningen. Since 2018, Ajay is also a Research Affiliate with MIT Sea Grant at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to this, Ajay worked as a Principal Research Scientist at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), Singapore. Ajay Kottapalli published more than100 peer-reviewed papers, edited 2 books and holds 4 patents (one of which is granted) in MEMS sensor technology. In 2018, Ajay was awarded the top 10 innovators under 35 in Asia Pacific by the MIT Technology Review, which is a hallmark achievement of his research career. He is an Editorial Board Member of IEEE Sensors Journal, npj flexible electronics and npj Soft Matter journals. In 2022, he was awarded the European research council (ERC) Starting Grant of 1.5M Euros. He is also the scientific founder of Sencilia, a Medtech start-up which spun out of the research conducted in his group.

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